Quick Silver

Mercury got its chemical Mercury got its chemical symbol from the Latin symbol from the Latin word Hydrargyrum word Hydrargyrum which is a Greek word which is a Greek word and means quick and means quick silver.silver.

Atomic Number: 80Atomic Number: 80 Group: 12Group: 12 Period: 6Period: 6 Part of the Part of the

Transition MetalsTransition Metals

Name from the Greek Name from the Greek god Mercury who was god Mercury who was the messenger to the the messenger to the gods and was known gods and was known for his speedfor his speed

Mercury was one of the first elements Mercury was one of the first elements discovereddiscovered

It was discovered so long ago that no one It was discovered so long ago that no one is sure who discovered it, where they did, is sure who discovered it, where they did, and the exact dateand the exact date

Samples of the element have been found Samples of the element have been found in Egyptian tombs as far back as 1500 B.C.in Egyptian tombs as far back as 1500 B.C.

It was also well know to the ancient It was also well know to the ancient ChineseChinese

Ancient Greeks used it as a medicineAncient Greeks used it as a medicine

Mercury's configuration:Mercury's configuration: [[XeXe]]4f4f14,14,5d5d10,10,6s6s2 2

Mercury is a metal that becomes a liquid at room Mercury is a metal that becomes a liquid at room temperature. temperature.

It is highly reflective. It is highly reflective. Even though Mercury is a liquid it is not wet. It Even though Mercury is a liquid it is not wet. It

will not soak into a material but slides across it.will not soak into a material but slides across it.

Mercury has a very Mercury has a very high density of 13.6 high density of 13.6

It is so dense that It is so dense that things like bricks, things like bricks, cannonballs, and cannonballs, and lead will float in lead will float in Mercury Mercury

It is 13 ½ times as It is 13 ½ times as heavy as the volume heavy as the volume of waterof water

Mercury has no tasteMercury has no taste

Specific HeatSpecific Heat:: 0.139J/gK 0.139J/gK

Melting PointMelting Point:: 234.28 234.28KK -38.72° -38.72°CC - -37.7°37.7°FF

Boiling PointBoiling Point:: 630 630KK 357°C 675°F 357°C 675°F

Atomic Mass Average:Atomic Mass Average: 200.59 200.59

Mercury is a rare element so the price is fairly highMercury is a rare element so the price is fairly high

At www.vhglabs.com a 25ml sample of mercury At www.vhglabs.com a 25ml sample of mercury costs $85.00. Other places will verycosts $85.00. Other places will very

Mercury is a decent Mercury is a decent conductor of electricity conductor of electricity but is very poor at but is very poor at conducting heatconducting heat

Rarely found as a pure Rarely found as a pure metal in naturemetal in nature

Metallic Mercury is Metallic Mercury is obtained from heating obtained from heating CinnabarCinnabar

Has high Has high surface tensionsurface tension

Is able to Is able to dissolve other dissolve other metals to form metals to form alloys known as alloys known as amalgamsamalgams

Mercury can be used Mercury can be used to make to make thermometers thermometers

Also other scientific Also other scientific instruments and instruments and barometersbarometers

Mercury conducts Mercury conducts electricity and is electricity and is used to make silent, used to make silent, position dependent position dependent switchesswitches

Its vapor is used in Its vapor is used in streetlights, streetlights, fluorescent lamps and fluorescent lamps and advertising signs. advertising signs.

Mercury can form Mercury can form alloys with other alloys with other metals, such as gold, metals, such as gold, silver, zinc and silver, zinc and cadmium. cadmium.

A mercury and silver A mercury and silver amalgam creates amalgam creates dental fillingsdental fillings

Also paints and batteriesAlso paints and batteries

PesticidesPesticides - Fungicides and biocides produced before - Fungicides and biocides produced before 1994 used mercury toxins to kill fungus, weeds and 1994 used mercury toxins to kill fungus, weeds and other pests. Most new pesticides are mercury-free. other pests. Most new pesticides are mercury-free.

Clothing IronsClothing Irons - Some irons have an automatic shut- - Some irons have an automatic shut-off switch containing mercury. Irons with mercury-free off switch containing mercury. Irons with mercury-free automatic shut-off switches are available. automatic shut-off switches are available.

Athletic ShoesAthletic Shoes - Some athletic shoes with flashing - Some athletic shoes with flashing lights in the soles contain mercury. Some states have lights in the soles contain mercury. Some states have banned the sale of these shoes. Newer shoes are banned the sale of these shoes. Newer shoes are mercury-free. mercury-free.

Blood Pressure GaugesBlood Pressure Gauges - Home blood pressure - Home blood pressure gauges contain almost 1.5 pounds of mercury. An gauges contain almost 1.5 pounds of mercury. An aneroid blood-pressure unit is a mercury-free option. aneroid blood-pressure unit is a mercury-free option.

Mercury, once used Mercury, once used extensively in the hat extensively in the hat making process, caused making process, caused a brain illness in many a brain illness in many hatters. hatters.

Hat makers, exposed to Hat makers, exposed to large amounts of large amounts of vaporized mercury, vaporized mercury, began to experience its began to experience its effects on their nervous effects on their nervous systems. Doctors even systems. Doctors even recorded seeing "holes recorded seeing "holes the size of quarters" the size of quarters" inside some hatters' inside some hatters' brains.brains.

Methyl mercury is a Methyl mercury is a lethal pollutant found lethal pollutant found in rivers and lakes in rivers and lakes

Mercury is very toxic Mercury is very toxic and must be handled and must be handled with extreme care with extreme care

Mercury poisoning Mercury poisoning could come from could come from eating contaminated eating contaminated fishfish

Some symptoms of Some symptoms of mercury poisoning are mercury poisoning are Irritability, Nervousness, Irritability, Nervousness, Fits of Anger, Memory Fits of Anger, Memory Loss, Lack of Attention, Loss, Lack of Attention, Depression, Low Self Depression, Low Self Confidence, Anxiety, Confidence, Anxiety, Drowsiness, Drowsiness, Shyness/timidity, Shyness/timidity, Decline of Intellect, Decline of Intellect, Insomnia, Low Self Insomnia, Low Self Control Control

In several areas of In several areas of the United States, the United States, concentrations of concentrations of mercury in fish and mercury in fish and wildlife are high wildlife are high enough to be a risk enough to be a risk to wildlife.to wildlife.